LIVE FROM THE PIT: Really Big Really clever, Suds, Jetski and Safeguard

It’s been a beautiful summer for Brighton’s REALLY BIG, REALLY CLEVER. Inbetween opening for the likes of HOBO JOHNSON and REGAL CHEER, and a smattering of festival slots, they managed to find time to release their sophomore album ...huh – a grungy set of tracks designed to be played loud, and preferably to an audience of people willing to dance along. So when they announced their 10-date headline tour to accompany it, fans up and down the country presumably breathed a sigh of relief.

Their final stop brings them to rainy Birmingham, on a busy Saturday night along the canal. It may be the birth place of heavy metal, but tonight the spotlight is on the British underground emo and pop-punk scene. Alongside REALLY BIG REALLY CLEVER on the bill are THE LOSING SCORE, playing a charismatic set full of catchy emo-pop that really works for bringing the energy up amongst the audience members. Their tracks are fun and bouncy, and it’s impossible not to mirror the lead vocalist’s permanent grin every time he’s within eyesight.

Yorkshire-based pop-punkers SAFEGUARD are up next. Returning this year after a 6-year hiatus, they come out swinging with a slightly more melancholy set, peppered with statements of gratitude for a warm welcome back after so long out of the game. It’s music designed to be shouted along to, and although the crowd aren’t quite there yet, it feels like it won’t be too long until they have crowds who are.

Melodic emo rockers SUDS take to the stage next, all twinkling guitars and soft, mellow vocals. It’s a refreshing palette cleanser between some of the more frantic sets of the night, with some of the tightest playing to be seen all night between the four members. The energy in the venue is brought back up by JETSKI, who bring their own brand of emo music down from Sheffield. The drummer is impossible not to watch, his frantic playing full of energy and passion, which the rest of the band try their best to match with decent success. Their songs are catchy and the crowd buzzes the whole time they’re up there.

When REALLY BIG REALLY CLEVER make it to the stage, the venue is nicely packed out – not even the rain can keep Brummies away from a live show. They launch straight into the opening tracks of their shiny new album, which has been out for just under a month, and as Back Door reaches its peak, the crowd starts to nod along. When they finish the track and ask everyone to come closer, they blindly obey – which for an up-and-coming band is basically the best confirmation that they’re doing something right.

This adds a shot of confidence to their performance, and they shred through the next few songs with giant grins. The Middle is a track that feels so much bigger in a live setting than it does on the record, and even the people stood at the back of the venue can be found nodding along, whilst the die-hards at the front jab their hands in the air for every word of the chorus. Karma gets a similar response, and it’s a true testament to the songwriting on the new record. The band may be slightly nervous in their performance of the new material, likely due to its newness, but the joy in their playing makes up for any little mistakes.

Their older tracks come out sounding a lot more polished, the grungier tone of tracks like It’s Changed matching the raspiness of the lead vocalist’s tour-worn voice. They play fast and hard, and it’s clear that they’re having as much fun on stage as everyone in the crowd is. They offer a couple of options for the final song to the audience, before deciding on the album closer from their self-titled debut, Forget You. They thrash about the stage wildly, with both vocalists moshing so hard their long hair keeps getting stuck to the ceiling with sweat. At one point a mic stand is knocked over, and in true rock-and-roll fashion it’s ignored, leading to the bassist’s mic being shared in one final, triumphant chorus. 

They leave the stage with bigger grins than they came on with, and end their tour with a flourish. One thing is for sure: REALLY BIG REALLY CLEVER know how to have a good time, whether that’s in their studio recordings or on a stage.

Words: Ellen Lovell

Photos: Ewan McDonald